Good morning, Golden! If there’s one Golden event to behold, in this humble Goose’s opinion, it’s Mines E-Days cardboard boat race. With ingenuity, dedication, and varying degrees of waterproofing ability, these fearless souls brave the cold spring river water to race furthest downstream in their creative cardboard crafts.
With community members and students lining the banks, cheering on each vessel as it fights to stay afloat, it’s truly a memorable experience for kids and adults alike. It takes place this Saturday at 9am.
Personally, I’m very curious to see how these brilliant minds plan to out-engineer the shallow waters after this winter…or if we’re in for some early disembarkments. May your cardboard stay strong and your tape hold fast, dear students! ⛵
In today’s issue:
🪩 Third Spaces
💧 Drought Declarations in Golden
🌎 Volunteer (+ Earth Day Events) Around Golden
📌 Bulletin Board
📆 Events This Week & Upcoming
🪩 Third Spaces
On Wednesday, I headed to the Golden Makers community meeting at Foothills Art Center and wow…what a turnout! The place was packed with community members curious about (or already dreaming up) a makerspace here in Golden.
After great presentations introducing the concept and the team leading the efforts, the crowd asked questions, jotted ideas on poster boards (everything from creative pop-ups to types of spaces/equipment they’d like to see), and generally proving that Golden is excited about this idea. The group is in discussions with the city and community to find a permanent home.
I’m a passionate believer in and seeker of third spaces — (sidenote: AI has ruined the em-dash for me but I’m using it anyways) free or low cost places outside of work and home where community can gather and find belonging. They come in all forms, but a makerspace, like a rec center, is a rare local spot for both kids and adults alike to gather, create, and connect.
And speaking of third spaces…a woman in my book club wrote an article for Westword recently titled Here’s Where to Find Third Places (And Community Connection) Around Denver. Check it out!
💧 Drought Declarations in Golden
The City conducted a public meeting to address concerns about potential drought declarations last Tuesday, and whether it was at the meeting or shortly after (I couldn’t attend), Golden declared a Stage 1 drought, like Denver did recently.
What this means for you (the TLDR from this announcement)…
Effective May 1:
Water your lawn max 2 days/week, and only between 6pm and 10am
No driveway runoff—adjust sprinklers and avoid watering sidewalks/streets
Fix leaks within 10 days (yes, that one drip counts)
No at-home car washing (but commercial car washes are fair game b/c they recycle water)
Hand watering + drip irrigation = allowed anytime
Try to use less water overall—lawns can go a little golden (on brand, really)
Break the rules → warnings, then fines, then potentially bigger penalties
💛 Volunteer (+ Earth Day Events) Around Golden
Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22, and there are several events to participate in:
4/18 @ 11am-1:30pm Barrels & Bottles’ Annual Community Cleanup - “We’ll provide gloves & trashbags. Gather back for drinks, snacks, & live music.” Location: 1055 Orchard St, Golden
4/18 @ 8am -1:30pm Earth Day: Trail Work w/ JeffCo Open Space - Spend the day doing trail maintenance and construction. Big Daddy Bagels and Illegal Pete's will provide breakfast and lunch.
4/18 @ 9:30am -1:30pm Earth Day: Planting w/ JeffCo Open Space - Spend the day removing noxious weeds and planting native species. Big Daddy Bagels and Illegal Pete's will provide breakfast and lunch.
4/20 @ 12-4pm Earth Day with Denver Urban Gardens at The Golden Mill - “The Golden Mill will host a special giveback day where Guests can connect with the DUG team onsite, pick up seeds and resources, and learn how to get involved in community gardening efforts throughout the region.”
5/2 Clear Creek River Cleanup at New Terrain - “Join us, New Terrain and The Outdoor Market Alliance for an impactful cleanup followed by a free beer and sweet giveaways from the best outdoor brands. This year, we invite you to join us by foot or bring your bike to help us collect more trash along the Clear Creek Trail.”
5/9 USPS Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive 2026 - Local letter carriers collect and bring donated food items to Golden Pantry! Help set up, organize, sort, or shelve the donated items.
6/1 Clear Creek Cleanups will resume - Every Monday at 7am beginning in June. Sign up for one morning or all of them.
📌 Bulletin Board
Take the Golden Tourism Survey to for chance to win $150 - Residents, businesses, and visitors' opinions are all requested and welcomed. The survey is anonymous (unless you provide contact information for prize entry), and should take about five minutes. The survey will be open until April 22.
Bike Walk Golden Map Community Night on Thurs - Beer, prizes, and community. See the event details in Events below.
Sign up for the SOAR 5K Run on 4/25 - Supporting the Welchester PTA, this event has a Kids Activity Village: a free bounce house, ambulance tour, yard games, and more.
SLASH Calendar Released - Sustainable Lands and Safer Homes (SLASH) runs a facility in Golden, the Tincup Ridge Slash Yard (101 Rooney Road) where residents can take debris from down trees, brush, and other natural matter. Removing this material form your yard helps mitigate wildfire. Dropoff dates are Fridays & Saturday, May - October.
Historic Preservation Design Guidelines Workshop on 4/21 - “Join City staff and consultants at the Golden Community Center to review the newly revised Historic Preservation Design Guidelines and provide your feedback to guide the design of Golden's Historic buildings.”
Reminders:
Spring Fling Pickleball Tournament - Tournament is April 17 - 19 at Tony Grampsas Park. Registration closes on April 10.
City of Golden Annual Tree Sale Ends April 17 - Don’t forget to purchase your trees. Two per household. Available while supplies last.
Mines’ E-Days is This Week (4/15 - 4/18) - Expect extra commotion on campus as students celebrate this annual event. Definitely check out the Cardboard Boat Race Saturday 4/18 @ 9am on Clear Creek (always a fun time) & look for fireworks that night (weather dependent).
📆 Events This Week & Upcoming
Highlighted in green = Kid Friendly
MONDAY (4/13)
🎭 Mines Little Theater - Footloose (4/13 @ 7pm) - Mines Spring Musical at Green Center.
TUESDAY (4/14)
🌱 Waterwise Design Principles and Plant Selection (4/14 @ 6:30pm) - “This session covers choosing site-appropriate species, incorporating native and adapted plants, and creating a cohesive layout that supports pollinators and thrives long-term.”
TRIVIA
6:30pm @ Bivy Beer Bar
6:30pm @ Buffalo Rose
7pm @ Atomic Cowboy
WEDNESDAY (4/15)
🤠 Country Line Dancing Night at Buffalo Rose (4/15 @ 7pm) - “…toe-tapping tunes and line dancing that'll have you two-stepping till closing time.”
TRIVIA
6:30pm @ Golden Mill
6:30pm @ Holidaily
THURSDAY (4/16)
🚲 Golden Bike & Safe Routes Map Community Night at Bivy Bar (4/16 @ 6:30pm) - Beer, prizes, and community. “Simple Cycling Maps' fabulous designers Zach and Michelle will be there with giant maps on hand to engage with residents, riders, commuters, and recreationalists on local knowledge (e.g., favorite routes, gaps, problem spots).”
FRIDAY (4/17)
🤣 Joke Box Comedy at Gnarley’s (4/17 @ 8pm) - “This isn’t your typical stand-up show… this is JOKE BOX—an interactive comedy experience where YOU are part of the action.”
SATURDAY (4/18)
🛶 E-Days Cardboard Boat Race on Clear Creek (4/18 @ 9am) - Always a good time watching students cruise down the river in cardboard boats.
🧘 Golden Hour Pilates Grand Opening (4/18 @ 11am) - Grab your ticket. Live music, food and beverages, DIY craft bar, and a short demo class with the team.
SUNDAY (4/19)
📚 Adult Book Fair at New Terrain (4/19 @ 12-4pm) - Exactly like it sounds…bringing back the glorious book fair with a trinket table and all!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
🎨 Paint You Pet at Holidaily (4/21 @ 6pm) - Registration ends on Sat, April 18th to give them time to hand-draw you pet on canvas!
🏃 SOAR 5K Run (4/25 @ 8am) - This event has a Kids Activity Village: a free bounce house, ambulance tour, yard games, and more. “All proceeds support the Welchester PTA with student clubs, enrichment learning, providing resources to classrooms, and creating events that bring families together and build meaningful community.”
🧁 4th Annual Gluten Free Food Festival (4/25 @ 11am-3pm) - Holidaily is celebrating Celiac Awareness Month with partners at Rocky Mountain Tap & Garden (in Louisville).
🥃 State 38 Cocktail Class (4/25 @ 4pm) - “Join us for an evening under the still and barrels to learn how to create two signature State 38 cocktails.”
🤣 Cannonball Comedy (4/25 @ 7pm) - Join for an evening of laughs with 3 local comics at Cannonball Brewing. (From a sign in the brewery so no link)
🛍 New Terrain Spring Market (4/26 @ 11am-5pm) - Free entry event. “Come support local vendors at the Spring Market… Browse a variety of local goods, including plants, original artwork and jewelry, pottery, woodworking, apparel and accessories, a mobile book truck, and more.”
🫖 Kintsugi Micro Organizer (4/26 @ 12:15 - 1:45 pm) - “Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. 🌟Instead of hiding cracks, chips or breakages, Kintsugi asks us to see the beauty instead of the brokenness.”
🥁 3rd Annual GHS Battle of the Bands at Buffalo Rose (4/26 @ 5pm) - “This unique community event will feature not only student bands, but a GHS staff band as well! Come watch your favorite rock-playing teachers on stage! This public event is a fundraiser in support of the Golden Performing Arts Boosters. Ticket sales will go directly to support to the GHS instrumental, vocal and theater programs and their students.”
🍷 Abejas Spring Lamb Wine Dinner (4/27 @ 6pm) - “Join us Monday, April 27 from 6–9pm for a four-course spring dinner featuring Boulder County grass-fed lamb from Buckner Family Ranch, paired with seasonal wines from around the world.”
📚 Books & Benders Book Club at Cannonball (4/28 @ 6pm) - Discussing "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
💄 Natural Makeup Make & Take Class (4/30 @ 6pm) - “You will get to make 3 of your very own, custom colored powdered Eyeshadow. Plus, make 1 pressed eyeshadow. These basics will give you the understanding to make any kind of makeup at home!” At Earth Sweet Boutique.
📖 Jefferson County Virtual Town Hall (4/30 @ 6pm) - “Join us on April 30 as Jefferson County subject experts and the Board of County Commissioners will be available to share important updates and answer your questions. You can join online to listen or ask any questions you might have.”
🚣 Golden River Sporst Annual Swap, Sale and Grand Reopening (5/1-5/3) - “Bring in your old gear to be listed and make 80% cash or 100% store credit. We will also be celebrating our Grand Reopening after renovations this spring plus vendors will be on-hand to help you with all your boating needs this summer. PARTY! !”
🌿 Spring Yard Waste Collection Day (5/4-5/8) - Happens twice a year. Extra yard waste will be collected this week.
🤖 Black Mirror / Red Carpet: A Night of Improvised Sci-fi Horror with Mines Spring 2026 Robots Ethics Class (5/6 @ 7pm) - “What happens when futuristic fears, ethical dilemmas, and a room full of brilliant minds collide with live improv?” Located at Gnarly’s.
THANKS!
If something here floated your boat, I’d love it if you shared it with a friend, your friend’s hot cousin you’ve definitely been crushing on, or your most ambitious DIY-er. In the wise words of Modest Mouse…float on! 🤘
